EXECUTIVE ORDER

WHEREAS, Article 1, §3 of the Constitution of the State of Kansas vests the supreme power of the state in the Governor; and

WHEREAS, Homeland Security Presidential Directive 9 identified the need for “safe, secure, and state-of-the-art agriculture bio-containment laboratories that research and develop diagnostic capabilities for foreign animal and zoonotic diseases”; and

WHEREAS, at present there are no facilities in the United States that have adequate containment, security, equipment and infrastructure to meet the requirements identified in Presidential Directive 9; and

WHEREAS, to meet this need, the Department of Homeland Security and its federal partners initiated plans for a National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF); and

WHEREAS, the NBAF will enhance protection from both natural and intentional threats by modernizing and integrating high-security facilities, thus enhancing our nation’s capacity to assess potential threats to humans and animals alike; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Homeland Security is seeking a location to build the $451 million, 500,000 square foot, NBAF facility; and

WHEREAS, Kansas is the ideal location for the NBAF. Kansas is a world leader in bioscience, especially in the areas of animal health, infectious diseases, vaccines and food safety and an exceptionally well qualified workforce; and

WHEREAS, two sites in Kansas, one in Manhattan and one in Leavenworth, are actively under consideration by the Department of Homeland Security to site the NBAF facility; and

WHEREAS, NBAF represents a seminal opportunity to secure a federal laboratory in Kansas; and

WHEREAS, Kansas has long supported national infrastructure, such as the Biosecurity Research Institute, to address our state’s and nation’s efforts to protect human and animal health from both naturally occurring and intentionally introduced disease threats; and

WHEREAS, NBAF will be a biotechnology magnet for private biotechnology companies, professionals and support infrastructure and will help anchor Kansas’ existing strengths in animal health and plant sciences; and

WHEREAS, Kansas is competing with 13 other states to site NBAF and must develop an aggressive advocacy plan led by prominent public and private leaders in order to be successful.

1. The task force shall be composed of 30 members appointed by the Governor. The Governor will designate a chair, vice chair and honorary chairs. The task force may elect other officers among its members and may establish any committees deemed necessary to discharge its responsibilities.
2. Members of the task force shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor and shall meet upon the call of the chairperson as necessary to carry out the duties outlined in this executive order.
3. One member each shall be appointed by the President of the Kansas Senate; Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives; Minority Leader of the Kansas Senate; Minority Leader of the Kansas House of Representatives.
4. Members of the Kansas Congressional Delegation, or their designees, shall serve as ex-officio members of the task force.
5. Members of the task force shall receive no compensation, subsistence allowance, mileage or expenses from the State of Kansas.
6. The Kansas Bioscience Authority shall provide primary support and assistance to the task force.
7. The task force shall develop a compelling case for siting NBAF at one of the two sites the Department of Homeland Security is evaluating in Kansas.
8. The task force shall coordinate community outreach and advocacy for the siting of NBAF in Kansas, and serve as a focal point for public input on the siting of NBAF in Kansas. The task force shall develop specific short-term and long-term plans to coordinate community outreach and advocacy for the siting of NBAF in Kansas.
9. The task force shall assist the Department of Homeland Security throughout the National Environmental Policy Act process to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed sites in Kansas (e.g., assist DHS in coordinating community outreach meetings and educating the public on what DHS proposes to do with the facility).
10. The task force shall engage private industry to support locating the NBAF in Kansas. The task force shall develop specific short-term and long-term plans to engage and inform the private industry as to the advantages of siting NBAF in Kansas.
11. The task force shall engage the affected agriculture stakeholder community to support locating the NBAF in Kansas. The task force shall develop specific short-term and long-term plans to engage and inform the local, state and national agriculture stakeholder community.
12. The task force shall develop and implement as necessary, a federal advocacy strategy to communicate the efficiency, value and synergies of siting NBAF in Kansas.
    1. The task force shall brief the Kansas Congressional Delegation on the importance of siting NBAF in Kansas.
    2. The task force shall advocate the siting of NBAF in Kansas to the Department of Homeland Security.
    3. The task force shall advocate for NBAF as a critical facility to address national bioterrorism and high-impact agricultural disease concerns.
13. The task force shall host any planned DHS site evaluation visit.
14. Plans, reports, or recommendations of any nature adopted by the Council shall be considered advice to the Governor and legislature and shall not be construed as official policy, position or interpretation of laws or rules and regulation by the State Corporation Commission, the Department of Health and Environment, the Department of Agriculture, or the Department of Animal Health nor shall they be bound in any manner to consider any such advice when conducting their advisory and regulatory responsibilities.

This document shall be filed with the Secretary of State as Executive Order No. 07-XX and shall become effective immediately.